May 2018 - Adapting European Policies

The Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO), the Coalition for Life-Course Immunisation (CLCI), along with other key stakeholders, have co-authored and contributed to a document that was initiated and funded by MSD and produced by the Health Policy Partnership. The report discusses what a life-course approach to vaccination could look like and how it could be implemented into future vaccination policies.

The report highlights that adopting a life-course approach to vaccination could positively impact individuals, the wider community, and socioeconomic factors. For example:

The individual: taking a life-course approach to vaccination may help boost the individuals’ immunity over their lifetime, which may make them more resistant to other diseases

Public Health: vaccinating individuals helps to stop the spread of infectious disease to vulnerable, unvaccinated populations.

Socioeconomic impact: through preventing illness, vaccinating individuals at all ages can reduce hospitalisation rates and increase productivity in the workplace.

Research suggests that shifting to a life-course approach to vaccination will require policymakers to make several changes.

These changes fall into 5 categories:

Involving global, EU and public health leaders

Changing the public’s perception of vaccination

Engaging healthcare professionals

Integrating vaccination into non-healthcare settings, such as schools or workplaces

Some of the co-authors of the report have also penned an open letter to key members of DG-Santé. In the letter, they call on all stakeholders to adopt a life-course approach to vaccination. Read the open letter here.

The Health Policy Partnership have created an infographic for members of the general public and policymakers detailing the importance of a life-course approach to vaccination.

If you have any questions about Life Course Immunisation or any aspects of the report please get in touch.

Founded in 2017, the Coalition for Life-course Immunisation (CLCI) is a network of European experts from a diverse range of sectors. CLCI advocates that if vaccine-preventable diseases are to be eradicated across Europe, a life-course approach to vaccination is one of the tools that should be adopted.